Is the K-7 the last Pentax DSLR?

As good as the specs are for the K-7, the digicam business unit (digital cameras/DSLRs) is bleeding the company.  Given that it is a publicly traded stock, Hoya (which bought Pentax in 2007) will do what it has to in order to cut losses in the Pentax line.

“Our digital camera business is not exactly a big operation. There are naturally questions among us whether it is big enough to go it alone.” Hoya Chief Executive Hiroshi Suzuki told Reuters in an interview.

My question is… who in their right mind in this economy would be interested in teaming up with Hoya to save the Pentax line? Interesting times we live in.

I have been giving the K-7 a VERY serious look (the specs really are quite good).  However, I would be committing to buying not just the K-7, but new lenses as well.  The HDR capture mode was interesting to me potentially for some of the “run and gun” real estate shoots I do that are not high end.  The last thing I want to do though is buy into a system that could be a dead end.

The key here is the message is coming from the company, not rumor mills.

I’m amazed that management would make such bold and dire statements like this just as they are rolling out the launch of their new flagship DSLR.  Talk about taking the wind out of the K-7 sails!  Hiroshi Suzuki further went on to say, “I’m afraid it will need some sort of alliance with another company in the long term.”

“it” is the Hoya Pentax digicam business unit.

With such a clear cut message from the top, it tells me one thing… I won’t buy anything Pentax until they have found that company as an alliance partner.